SHOOTERS RIGHTS (NZ)

 

THE RIGHT TO ARM BEARS – in a New Zealand context.

(Or rights as a law abiding  'fit & proper person')

Now that I've got your attention and you're all tensed-up with an increased heart rate – may I assure you that I genuinely am a pacifist with a record going way back to the British CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament) in the 1960s and the Nuclear Free New Zealand movement led by the late Larry Ross in 1980s Christchurch. - Now that you may be a little calmer, I'll carry-on, eh.

I've done a lot of research about weaponry, warfare, and military force, - and I lived for years in UK with the promise of a '4 Minute Warning' of nuclear missile impact – very comforting as the nearby M***** Hill (where we went swimming in the Sports Centre pool), covered the underground headquarters of Britains Strike Command HQ. - Here's a short quiz question: Which country has the highest density of military installations in the world? (Well it used to be when I lived there.)

- Anyway in the early 1960s aged 15, I was taught to shoot a rifle at my school range as part of the weekly compulsory (full uniform cadet) military training.

                                Lee-Enfield No.8 Mk1 Cadet Training Rifle .22" caliber

Now here are some proposals that I'd like you to consider:

A- If it were possible to dis-invent all nukes & all weapons above sticks & rocks, - I'd do it now.

B – If all legal ownership of firearms was banned by law - it is a fact that - only criminals would continue armed. (- Law-abiding citizens all being disarmed).

C – I strongly insist on my right as a pacifist(and yours) to defend myself, my family, and any other people who may be suffering serious physical assault.(This is the same right as police).

D – The current NZ Firearms Acts and Regulations are very restrictive and generally work well.. despite some silly bits regarding "free standing pistol grips" on rifles, and the look of some features.

E – Current NZ Police regulation (page 41 Arms Code) states "Self-defence is not a valid reason to possess firearms."

F- Governments (including ours) - train, pay, and equip, young men to kill their political enemies, - and reward selected lethal high achievers with medals and promotion.

G- Now here comes my big proposal.- People endorsed by the Police as "a Fit & Proper Person" to possess and use 'restricted weapons' should be permitted to carry and keep such arms in the same manner as armed police. - It might be considered neccessery to swear-in such endorsed firearms users as 'Auxiliary Police' . - If they are not safe to do this, in a responsible manner in support of maintaining the law, why are they licensed to own & use such firearms in the first place? - I maintain that our stretched police-force should be granted all possible help and support in conducting their essential duties.

Note: NZ Police employed at all International Airports are always armed (as required by Aviation Law). - So also are Diplomatic Protection, Witness Protection, Armed Offenders Squads, Special Tactics Groups, - and most patrol cars have guns available in an onboard safe.

                                 
                               Swiss Army Rifle Stgw90 (with 40mm grenade launcher)
                                               Oops - has that got a pistol grip ?

Supporting facts: All male citizens of military age in Switzerland (pop:8 Million) are required to keep at home their military assault rifle or pistol (Sig P220) -depending on rank. Keeping their weapons after the end of their military service requires a license. The total number of firearms in Swiss homes is estimated as between 1.2 million to 3 million – the third highest in the world. The Swiss violent crime rate is among the lowest in Europe. - American States having introduced concealed carry permits are found to have either reduced violent crime rates or not inreased those numbers. - Kennesaw Georgia is well known for its very low crime rates since it made gun ownership mandatory in 1982 for the head of each household. On the other hand, Washington DC and Chicago have the toughest restrictions on gun ownership and also suffer the highest crime rates in that nation.

- British gun crime almost doubled in the year following the 1997 handgun ban - and violent crime has soared by 69%. - In Australia following the "Port Arthur Gun Ban" – violent crime rates rose 32% in the six years following, and armed robbery rates rose 74%.

                 Marty.